Welcome!

Rimutaka Forest Park is a magnificent area of mostly native
forest in the hills east of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington.

It encompasses the Rimutaka Ranges and the Orongorongo River, just north of the spectacular earthquake terraces
and seal colony at the Turakirae Head Scientific Reserve.

The Park is characterised by steep, bush-clad hills and narrow fern-filled
valleys cut by abundant freshwater streams and the beautiful Orongorongo
River.

Throughout the park, there are many well-formed and signposted
walking tracks appealing to bushwalkers and nature lovers of every age and state of
fitness.

The park is easily accessed by road from Wellington or Lower
Hutt. Simply take the hill road to Wainuiomata and follow all the signs to the
Coast Road/ Rimutaka Forest Park and then turn left at the Catchpool
Stream access road into the Park. (See Map)

The Rimutaka Forest Park Charitable Trust is committed to preserve
and restore the natural and historic resources of the Rimutaka
Forest Park valleys and environs... (More)

Acoustic survey of the diurnal bird population in the Rimutaka Forest Park

In December of 2015 the Trust deployed acoustic recorders at 75 sites
in the Rimutaka Forest Park, in order to estimate the relative abundance
of diurnal bird species. This was the first time such a comprehensive
survey of day birds had been carried out in our region. We followed the
counting protocol used by researchers at Victoria University of
Wellington.
(More...)

Want to hear what a male Brown Kiwi sounds like?
Here are two of them calling to each other on the first night of
their release into the Rimutaka Forest Park. (848kb wav
Recording, courtesy S. Ellis) Click the kiwi to play...

Why not join us?

New members are always welcome!
We have many different and interesting roles to fill for keen
volunteers. Learning opportunities abound and you'll enjoy the company
of many great characters among our existing members! Perhaps you have
some specialist skills that you'd like to contribute to assist us in
attaining our long-term goals and objectives? If so, please complete the
Membership Application Formhere...and send it in to the Membership Secretary by mail or email. (For
address details, click here...)

Give a Gift that Makes a Difference...

Here's an idea that might solve your gift-giving dilemma AND Save the
Planet!

The Rimutaka Forest Park Trust has some excellent
Sponsorship Package Options available for those who wish to support
our conservation efforts and delight the receiver with a thoughtful gift
that will last for years and contribute to improving the health of our
wonderful native biodiversity.

Bilbo's Babies... two recently hatched chicks
which were still in the natal burrow with Dad this afternoon, were taken
up to a creche at Pukaha Mt.Bruce today for care and protection. They
will remain there until they reach a weight greater than a kilogram (or
big enough to fight off a stoat) before being returned to the Rimutaka
Forest Park to be set free to roam wild. (Image credit: Melody McLaughlin).

NZ Wood Pigeon are abundant throughout the Rimutaka Forest Park and can be
found in large flocks down in the Catchpool Valley during the winter
months, where they feast upon tree lucerne along the access road to
the top car park. That makes them very easy to spot, even from your car, and a
great subject for photographers. (Click for a larger image). Photo
credit: Robert McCabe

The Skull Gully Stream is set in the
magnificent, untouched native forest that makes up the Wainuiomata Water
Catchment. Some of our kiwi have made their home there, so we have
augmented the pest control efforts there by adding many new self-setting
stoat and rat traps. (Click for a larger image.) Photo credit: PC

Fungi reclaiming nutrients from a fallen
forest giant.. Natural regeneration of elements within a living forest.
Photo taken on Mt McKerrow side ridge two (MSR2) in the Rimutaka Forest
Park. Click for a larger image...Photo credit: PC

Wellington Green Gecko - Naultinus elegans punctatus (or
elegant spotted one!) is found only in the lower North Island of New
Zealand and is one of several lizard species thriving in the Rimutaka
Forest Park. Here it is seen on flowering Poroporo, also
growing in the Park. Photo credit: Andrew Morrison.